The Thorns Remain

by Jennifer Hartmann

“You gave me a light when my world had gone dark. And I’m so fucking sorry if I stole your light, and I pray you get it back, but I couldn’t walk out of your life without you knowing the impact you had on mine.”

Mason looks mightily pleased by his discovery, and I know now, without a doubt, he is my son.

I’ll wait forever, Josie Bennett.

“I’m happy when I’m with you,” she sniffs, her smile still holding more sadness than I’d like to see. “Please know that. You really have made me happy.”

The kiss is slow, so slow, like maybe we can stop time—maybe we can go back in time—maybe we can reverse all the damage done and start the hell over. We are so good together. We could have been so good together.

I take Josie’s hand in mine, kissing it, telling myself, “This is right, this is right, this is right.” It needs to be this way.